Express & Star

Paedophile hunters: Express & Star readers back controversial tactics

Hundreds of readers have had their say over whether they believed so-called paedophile hunters are doing more harm than good.

Published
Police warn that vigilante groups can damage police investigations or even wrongly accuse someone

And the vast majority have welcomed their actions as they bid to trap suspected paedophiles by posing as young boys or girls on internet chat rooms.

It came after police warned off anyone in the West Midlands tempted to take the law into their own hands.

In July, a vigilante group filmed an interview with a suspect in Wolverhampton before police arrived.

In an Express & Star poll, 77 per cent of readers said they supported the tactics of paedophile hunters with 23 per cent disagreeing.

One reader, Bummy McBumnose, wrote: "If there was a proper deterrent and an effective police campaign to weed these so-called people, these filthy abomination out of society, then paedophile hunters would not be needed, and we wouldn't have to debate the merits these folks taking the law into their own hands."

On Facebook, Terry Parsons, said of the paedophile hunters: "As long as they do it properly what's the problem."

Another reader, Lyn Lerwill, wrote: "They're doing a fantastic job...100 per cent behind them."

John Davenport wrote on Facebook: "The police just have not got the manpower to hunt down these internet freaks, so I guess these cyber vigilantes are the next best thing. f they can save even one child from their clutches it's worthwhile."